Hoisting apparatus



June 23, 1936. J SMALTZ 2,045,533

HOISTING APPARATUS Filed May 4, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR film C Small/Z BY AT RNEY June 23, 1936. .1. c. SMALTZ HOISTING APPARATU S I Sheet 2 Fileitl May 4, 1935 AT RNEY' 5 Patented June 23, 1936 UNITED STATES HOISTING APPARATUS John C. Smaltz, New York, N. Y., assignor to Mc- Kiernan-Terry Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 4, 1935, Serial No. 19,761

17 Claims.

The invention herein. disclosed relates particularly to the hoisting of floating aircraft aboard ship.

The gear required for the purpose necessarily is relatively heavy, particularly the hook at the end of the hoist line and the .overhauling weight with which the line is usually loaded.

The effects of wave motion and roll of the ship, exaggerated as they are at the outer end of the boom carrying the hoist line, make the problem of attaching the line to the plane a difficult one, the more difficult because of the precarious footing of the operator on top of the craft, making the attachment.

In the past, injuries to the men and damage to the planes have been common and the danger involved necessarily has slowed up and complicated such operations.

The objects of the invention are to overcome and eliminate, so far as possible the dangers and objections accompanying the present methods of handling aircraft and to accomplish this in a simple and entirely practical way.

These objects are attained in the invention by certain novel features of construction, combination and relations of parts as hereinafter described and broadly claimed.

The drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrate present preferred embodiments and modes of use, but it will be appreciated as the invention is understood, that modifications and changes may be made to suit special conditions all within the true spirit and broad scope of the invention.

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of an airplane crane embodying the invention, showing the parts as they appear before and after attachment to the craft.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged broken detail illustrating the relation of the par-ts'in presenting the hook to the operator on the airplane.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, illustrating positions the parts assume in the hoisting operation.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken sectional detail of the overhaul weight with enclosed one way clutch providing a sliding mounting on the hoist line.

Fig. '5 is an enlarged side elevation of the overhaul weight.

In Fig. 1, the outstanding boom of an airplane crane is indicated at I, carrying a sheave 8, for

the hoist line 9. V

A hook 10, or equivalent, is usually provided on the end of the line for quick attachment with the hoist gear II, of the aircraft, indicated generally at I2.

The overhaul weight I3, is here illustrated as of special design, carrying, in outstanding relation, a guide I4, for a tag line I 5, connected either directly or indirectly with the hook, in this case with the link I6, which suspends the hook at the end of the line.

The tag line I5 is shown as carried over a 10 guide sheave IT, on the underside of the boom near the outer end thereof, down to a tension device, indicated as a drum I8, operated by a tension motor I9. This tension device conveniently may be directly mounted on theboom, substantially as indicated.

The operation and effect of the tension device is to draw the hook up to the weight, substantially as indicated in the broken lines Fig. 1, and in detail in Fig. 2, but with a force which will 20 yield to the operator in making the attachment to the plane. It will be realized from this. that other devices than the small torque motor "winch shown may be employed for the purpose. Thus, if space were available, a simple counterbalance weight attached to the inner end of the tag line might be used. Also, the line for supporting the hook may originate at the weight instead of being carried down the boom and a spring reel be carried by the weight to retract the hook. The tag line arrangement illustrated is however preferred, as giving a certain amount of control against spinning and providing better accessibility. The torque or tension motor may be hydraulic, or one producing torque by the action of aspring, or electric, as indicated and, as stated, this entire tensioning device may be either carried by the weight or be mounted'inboard or on the base of. the boom, as shown.

Convenient .and practical control of the. hook is given the operator in the illustration, .by a drag line 20,.shown attached directly to the back of the hook and of a length to hang down within easy reach when standing on the wing of a floating plane.. This line need only be heavy enough, to pull the hook down against the lift of the tension device. It may, if desired, be carried through an eye .or brought down under any other suitable guiding structure on the plane, so that pull on this line will bring the hook down and hold it within reach of the hoisting gear I I, of the plane. Insuch operations, the drag line will'act as a mooring line for the plane.

To aid in manoeuvring, a. control line 2|, may

be attached to or adjacent the hook, it being shown in this instance, connected with the hook link l6, and used from a point aboard the ship, to control the position of the hook and, the hook and the weight in the first instance, with respect to the plane.

To afford the greatest safety and manoeuvreability, the overhaul weight is preferably located a considerable distance up on the line from the hook, so that all danger of collision with the seaplane or its operator is avoided. This also enables a minimum length of boom to be used to hoist the plane over the side of the ship. When the hook is raised to the weight, as in Figs. 1 and 2, there will be an appreciable bight of the hoist line ranging from the weight. This bight in itself may be long enough for the operator to grasp and use in manoeuvring for making the connection with the plane.

To prevent the overhaul weight, in its elevated position on the line, from acting as a stop to limit the vertical hoist, this weight maybe slidably or movably supported on the line, as by means of a construction such as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. Here there are shown downwardly tapering clutch segments 22, mounted in a correspondingly tapered socket 23, in the weight and forced by an overstanding spring 24, into yielding gripping engagement with the cable passing therethrough. This form of clutch permits the cable to pass up through the weight, when the weight is'stopped as in Fig. 3, but grips the cable sufficiently to prevent the weight from slipping down over the cable under the conditions shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

To efiect release of the clutch and permit the hoist line to pass up through the weight, the boom is shown as carrying a stop 25, positioned to engage the rounded cap 26, of the weight as in Fig. 3. When such engagement is efiected, the weight will stop at the end of the boom while the cable slides up between the clutch segments.

A light stop 21, is shown fixed on the cable below the weight to limit the extent of this slipping movement of the cable through the weight and to definitely insure a certain spacing of the weight from the hook.

To enable the re-setting of the overhaul weight up to the extended position on the hoist line, some means may be provided for releasing the clutch. In the illustration, means for this purpose is shown as a bushing 28, screwed in the lower end of the counterweight in position to abut and lift the clutch segments against the pressure of spring 24, when turned as by means of a suitable tool engaged with the protruding head 29, of the bushing. It will be seen that upon turning this bushing upward into the weight, the clutch may be entirely released and the weight then be readily slipped up over the cable to its former position, whereupon by turning the bushing outward, the clutch segments may be again released to grip the cable as in Fi 4.

To guard the clutch release against accidental operation of the same, protecting guard walls may be extended from the body of the weight down about the head 29 of the screw bushing. Theseguard walls are indicated at 30, and 3|, in Fig. 5, the first being the base portion of the outstanding arm 32, which carries the tag line uide sheave l4, and the second being a thickened heavy wall at the opposite side of the line to act as a counterbalance for the projecting arm and guide. At the bottom, these projecting guard portions are shown connected by a wall 33, for coaction with the stop 21, and provided with a guide 34, therethrough for the line.

As will be clear particularly from the broken lines shown in Fig. 1, the hook in its raised position at the weight may be swung out over the plane or any other floating object without danger to the operator or any possibility of injury to the plane, etc. the hook 10 or its attached grab line 20, and having partially brought the hook toward the plane preparatory to attachment thereto is himself in no danger of collision with the hook or the plane with the hook for an upward movement of the plane is immediately attended by a similar and equal movement upward of the hook produced by the upward force exerted upon it by the tag line l5 and'the torque or tension motor l8|9. Before and during such operations, the control line 2 I, may be used to shift the combined hook and weight as in dotted lines Fig. 1, or the hook alone, as in full lines, as seems best for those particular conditions. When attachment is effected, the tag line will hold the hoist line taut until the power of the winch is applied to actually lift the plane. The upward travel of the overhaul weight is limited by its engagement with the'boom stop 25, as in Fig. 3, after which the internal clutch permits the rope or cable to slide through the weight for the rest of the hoisting operation. The structure is relatively simple and readily applicable to existing equipment and because of the greater safety and security, hoisting operations can be carried on much more effectively and expeditiously.

The overhaul weight serves in the illustration both as a means to pay out the hoist line 9, and as a carrier or support for the tag line guide l4. While this combination appears at present to be the most desirable, it is conceivable that the line might be paid out by other means and that in place of the weight, there would then be simply The operator, having grasped a support for the tag line guide slidably mount- V ed on the hoist line. The specification and claims are to be construed accordingly and it will be evident that other variations may be made and the invention put to other uses than that illustrated, all within the intent and broad scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is I 1. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line, an attachment hook at the end of the same, an overhaul weight on said line above said hook, a tag line connected with said hook, a guide for said tag line carried by said weight, means for yieldingly tensioning said tag line over said guide to yieldingly support and draw said hook up toward said weight and a line connected with said hook for drawing the same downward away from said weight for connection of the hook with an object to be hoisted. Y

2. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line adapted for connection with an object to be hoisted, anoverhaul weight on said line above the connecting portion of the same and means for supporting and drawing said connecting portion of the line upward toward said weight, said means being yieldable to downward pull exerted for connecting said portion with an object to be hoisted. l

3. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line adapted for connection with an object to be-hoisted, an overhaul weight on said line above the connecting portion nection with an object to be hoisted, an overhaul weight on said line above the connecting portion of the same, means for supporting and drawing said connecting portion of the line upward toward said weight, said means being yieldable to downward pull exerted for connecting said portion with an object to be hoisted, said weight having a limited travel on said hoist line.

5. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line adapted for connection with an object to be hoisted, an overhaul weight on said line above the connecting portion of the same, means for supporting and drawing said connecting portion of the line upward toward said weight, said means being yieldable to downward pull exerted for connecting said portion with an object to be hoisted and clutch means yieldingly holding said weight in position on said line.

6. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line adapted for connection with an object to be hoisted, an overhaul weight on said line above the connecting portion of the same, means for supporting and drawing said connecting portion of the line upward toward said weight, said means being yieldable to downward pull exerted for connecting said portion with an object to be hoisted, clutch means yieldingly holding said weight in position on said line and a stop on the line limiting approach of the weight to the connecting portion of the line.

'7. In combination, a hoist line, an overhaul weight on said hoist line and having a tag line guide and a one way yielding clutch for holding said weight in various one way shiftable positions on said hoist line.

8. In combination, a hoist line, an overhaul weight on said hoist line and having a tag line guide and a one way yielding clutch for holding said weight in various one way shiftable positions on said hoist line, a stop engageable by said weight to hold same while the clutch yields to movement of the line in respect to said weight and a stop on the line to limit such movement of the ing in combination, a hoist line, an attachment hook at the end of the same, a support on said line above said hook and means for normally drawing the hook up to said support, said means being yieldable to pull applied to the hook in the act of attaching the same to a floating object.

11. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line, an attachment hook at the end of the same, a support on said line above said hook, means for normally drawing the hook up to said support, said means being yieldable to pull applied to the hook in the act of attaching the same to a floating object and including a guide carried by said support, a tag line connected with the hook and operating over said guide and a constant tension device connected with said tag line.

12. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line, an attachment hook at the end of the same, a support on said line above said hook, means for normally drawing the hook up to said support, said means being yieldable to pull applied to the hook in the act of attaching the same to a floating object and including a guide carried by said support, a tag line connected with the hook and operating over said guide, a constant tension device connected with said tag line and means for mounting said support in slidable relation on the hoist line.

13. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line. an attachment hook at the end of the same and means for yieldingly supporting said hook independently ofsaid hoist line.

14. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line, an attachment hook at the end of the same, means for yieldingly supporting said hook independently of said hoist line and including a hook supporting line, a winding drum for said hook supporting line and a tension motor for operating said drum.

15. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line, an attachment hook'at the end of the same, means for yieldingly supporting said hook independently of said hoist line and a drag line for lowering said hook against the pull of said yieldable hook supporting means.

16. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line, an attachment hook at the end of the same, means for yieldingly supporting said hook independently of said hoist line including a hook supporting line and means for applying a substantially constant hoisting tension thereto.

1'7. A hoist of the character disclosed, comprising in combination, a hoist line, an attachment hook at the end of the same, means for yieldingly supporting said hook independently of said hoist line including a hook supporting line, means for applying a substantially constant hoisting tension 0 thereto, a guide for' said hooksupporting line and means for shiftably supporting said guide on the hoist line.

JOHN C. SMALTZ. 

